Pumping and drilling unit



Jan. 21, 1941; w MURRAY PUMPING AND DRILLING UNIT Filed June 24, 1939 Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMPING- AND DRILLING UNIT Application June 24, 1939, Serial No. 280,926

11 Claims,

This invention relates to improvements in oil well equipment.

A principal feature of the invention relates to improvements in apparatus for oil well pumping operations. This improved apparatus may include a wire line winch for pulling and replacing rods, tubing, pipe or the like, and may also be provided with a rotary drilling attachment which is relatively inexpensive and easy to install.

An object of this invention is to provide equipment of the character described which is less expensive to construct than conventional apparatus, but nevertheless has, at least, the same usefulness and durability, and also greater power,

15 and may be maintained just as inexpensively.

A further object of the invention is to provide oil well equipment, in which a number of the individual parts are of conventional form and readily obtainable at small cost. The initial cost, as well as the upkeep, of the equipment will, therefore, be relatively inexpensive.

Still another object is to provide oil well equipment of the character described, in which the frame is formed as a unit, to which all parts of the equipment are attached, whereby a simplifled construction is secured which may be readily moved from one well to another and quickly placed into operation, with a saving in time, labor and expense.

A further object is to provide oil well equipment of the character described in which a power shaft is driven from a motor by means of gearing and drive shaft means, whereby the use of the objectionable endless belt and chain drives on conventional pumping units is avoided.

Still another object is to provide oil well equipment of the character described in which variable speed transmission and reduction gearing'is interposed between a motor and a driven power 40 shaft. Such an arrangement provides more power for the pumping operations and permits a variation in the speed of the well pump without changing the speed of the motor. In so-called stripper wells, which are substantially free of water, the pumping operation requires only about 19 strokes per minute, whereas wells producing water along with oil require 30 or more strokes per minute. With the equipment of this invention, the rate of operation of an oil well pump can be 50 varied over a range from 10 to 40 strokes per minute without the speed of the motor being changed. As a result, the life of the motor will be prolonged, and oil will be produced more economically.

A further object of the invention is toxprovide a chain and sprocket drive for replacing the conventional walking beam of oil well pumps. The chain and sprocket drive is preferable since it is a less expensive construction and provides a straight lift on the pump sucker rods in the pumping operation. This straight lift avoids the objectionable lateral movement of the sucker rods, which accompanies use of a walking beam.

A further object is to provide oil well equipment with a power plant which may be adapted for operation with either natural gas or gasoline by simply changing its carburetor.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be evident from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, in a perspective View, a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the illustrated equipment comprises a power plant l, a clutch 2, a transmission 3, and a gear shift lever 4, which are preferably connected for operation in the same manner as the corresponding parts of an ordinary automobile truck. The power plant I, for example, may be a conventional Ford V8 motor complete with radiator, or may be some other type of conventional automobile or truck motor. The clutch 2 is preferably a heavy duty clutch such as commonly used in an automobile truck. The transmission 3 is preferably one adapted for heavy duty, such as a conventional Ford V-8 truck transmission.

The drive of the transmission 3 may be transmitted to the power shaft 1 by means of a conventional universal joint 50, a short drive shaft 5, and gearing in the gear box 6. The gearing in the gear box 6 may comprise a conventional Fordson tractor differential worm and ring gearing, or any other suitable reduction worm gearing of approximately the same ratio, that is 17 to 1. The shaft 1 preferably extends through and is welded to the ring gear of the gearing in gear box 6. At opposite sides of this ring gear, the shaft 1 projects through and is rotatably supported in bearings carried by the gear box 6. The shaft 1 may extend from each side of the gear box 6 a suitable distance, for example, approximately 6 inches, so that the ends of the shaft 1 may support crank arms'8 and sprocket wheels [8 and 23. These sprocket wheels [8 and 23 are arranged between the crank arms 8 and. the gear box 6. Each crank arm 8 is preferably keyed at one end to the shaft 1, and connected adjacent its other end to a pitman or connecting rod 9 by means of a crank pin 5|. Each crank arm may be in the form of aheavy iron bar measuring, for example, 2 inches by 6 inches by 24 or 30 inches. The driving connection between either one of the cranks 8 and its connecting rod 9 may be adjusted by shifting the connecting crank pin 5| from one to another of several openings which are provided in the crank arm 8. This adjustment changes the stroke of the crank pin 5| and the connecting rod 9 to which it is attached. The connecting rods 9 preferably have brass bearings for receiving the crank pins 5| of the crank arms 8 and may be provided with grease cups for automatically feeding grease to the crank pin bearings.

The outer or upper ends of the connecting rods 9 are secured to the opposite ends of a cross bar device which may comprise a' shaft or rod l and a pipe The rod I0 may have a diameter of 1 inches, the pipe may have an external diameter of 4 inches, and the connecting rods 9 may be in the form of iron bars having a square cross section of 2 by 2 inches. The upper ends of the connecting rods 9 are perforated and extend through openings in the bottom of the The shaft or rod It is so placed in the pipe H as to extend through the perforations in the ends of the connecting rods 9. The bottom openings in the pipe I l are preferably of the same size and shape as the cross section of the ends of the connecting rods 9. The perforations in the ends of the connecting rods 9 have preferably the same diameter as the rod it. This cross bar de vice (l0 and H) provides a rigid connection between the outer ends of the connecting rods 9.

A flexible means I2, such as chain, cable, or wire, provides the driving connection between the cross bar device ID, and the pumping or sucker rod 52 of an oil well to be worked. This flexible means |2 replaces the conventional walking beam and provides a perfectly straight lift for the pumping rod 52 in the pumping operation. The flexible means |2 may be connected to the central part of the cross bar device (H), II), and is supported by the overhead rotary means I3 and M. If the flexible means l2 has the form of a chain, the rotary means I3 and I4 may be sprocket wheels as shown in the drawing. If cable or wire is used in place of chain l2, the rotary means l3 and l l may be provided in the form of pulleys or sheaves. The sprocket wheels l3 and M may be keyed to 4 inch shafts 53 and 5 respectively, which are rotatably supported at each end by babbit bearings 55 that are carried by the frame ll.

In the operation of the illustrated apparatus, the engine rotates the shaft 1 at the speed selected by operation of the gear shift lever 4. The cranks 8 are driven by the operation of the shaft 1, and the connecting rods 9 reciprocate simultaneously and similarly in a vertical direction. In the downward stroke of the crank arms 8, the connecting rods 9 pull on the chain I2 to raise the pumping rod 52. As the crank arms 8 rise, the pumping rod 52 pulls on the chain i2, and the connecting arms 9 are raised under the joint effect of the crank arms 8 and the chain l2 which is held taut by the descending pumping rod 52.

During pumping operations, the drive shaft 5' and the crank arms 8 have a speed ratio of, for example, 17 to 1, due to the reduction gearing in the gear box 6. The transmission 3 provides addithe speed of the The power delivering end of the chain l2 and the pumping or sucker rod 52 of the well pump are connected to a rod I5. Each end of this rod H": is connected to a counterweight It by means of a chain 56. The two chains 56 are supported by two sprockets 51 that are keyed to the opposite ends of the shaft 54 which carries the sprocket I l. The counterweight chains 56 may be of the square link, roller bearing type, and have their links interlocking with the teeth of the supporting sprocket wheels 51. The counterweights is may be in the form of containers having a depth of 4 or 5 feet and filled with scrap metal. Or each counterweight l6 may be in the form of a rod welded at its bottom to a plate, and a number of slotted weights fitted onto said rod and carried by the plate at its base.

The counterweights |6 are preferably so adjusted as to equal 95% of the total weight of the Well pumping rods. The counterweights l6 assist the motor in lifting the pumping rods on each up stroke and, retard the pumping rods on their downstroke, whereby smooth pumping operations are secured, and the chain l2, as well as the drive therefor, is relieved of much strain.

The top pumping or sucker rod 52 and the chain 2 are preferably both secured to the rod i5 at its central point. The counterweight chains 55 are preferably secured to the ends of rod l5, so as to provide a continuous direct lifting action on the pumping rod 52 corresponding to the weight of the counterweights I6.

The pumping equipment is mounted on a unitary frame Which can be made of pipes, beams or other material suitable for a sturdy and rigid structure. The individual members of the frame may be secured in assembled relation by means of bolts or by welding, so as to form in effect a one piece frame structure with theequipment mounted thereon. The frame Il may have a ladder 22 extending from its base to its top. This ladder 22 may be formed of pieces of one inch pipe and a frame, and have its pieces welded together.

The apparatus of this invention may include a wire line winch assembly for use in removing or repiacing well tubing or rods, for use in cleaning wells, or for other functions of which it is capable. This wire line winch assembly has a sprocket I8 which is keyed toshaft 7 and which drives a drum sprocket 2| through a sprocket chain 19. The drum sprocket 2| is keyed to the shaft 60 of the wire line drum 20. As the drum 20 is driven from shaft 1, the drum 29 may have its speed, power, and operation controlled in the same manner as the crank arms 8, which are also driven by the shaft 1.

The apparatus of this invention, if desired, may be readily equipped with a rotary drilling device 34 having driving connection with shaft 1. This drive for the rotary drilling device 34 may comprise sprocket wheels 23, 26, 21, 30, 3| and 33, and sprocket chains 24, 28 and 32. The sprocket wheel 23 may be keyed to the shaft 1 and drive the sprocket wheel 25 through the sprocket chain 24. The sprocket wheels 26 and 27 are mounted on a shaft 25 which is supported from the frame I i by means of bearings 6|. The sprocket wheel 25 may drive the shaft 25 through a suitable clutch (not shown). This clutch (not shown) may be operated to either interrupt or establish driving relation between the sprocket wheels 26 and 21. The sprocket wheels 30 and 3| are both keyed to a jack shaft 62 which may be supported at each end by means of babbit bearings. These babbit bearings for the jack shaft 62 are suitably mounted on the frame IT. The sprocket wheel 30 receives its drive from the sprocket wheel 21.

1 33 by means of the sprocket chain 32.

The sprocket wheel 3! drives the sprocket wheel The sprocket wheel 33 is operatively connected to and drives the rotary drilling device 34.

Each end of the shaft 25 may be provided with a small drum or cathead 35. These catheads 35 may be used for picking up or lifting heavy articles which are adjacent the derrick floor. A grass rope, for example, may be secured at one end to the article to be lifted and then wrapped several times around the cathead 35. The cathead 35 will then wind up the grass. rope and lift the article.

The rotary drilling attachment comprising the rotary drilling device 34 and its drive from shaft 1 may be part of the apparatus as illustrated, may be omitted when rotary drilling operations are not desired, or may be added to the pumping and winch unit when occasion requires it.

It will now be understood that the present invention provides an improved pumping and wire line winch unit, which is readily adapted to have a simplified rotary drilling attachment associated therewith when and if desired. It is also to be understood that the invention provides a reduction gearing and variable speed drive which is readily available for operating a pumping unit, a wire line winch and a rotary drilling attachment. One feature of the invention resides in the pumping and wire line winch unit, which by means of relatively few parts may be connected in driving relation to a rotary drilling device. Another feature resides in the provision of oil well apparatus with a wire line winch which is available for removing and replacing rodsand tubing for the pumping operations of a producing well, and is also available and suitable for removing and replacing drill pipe for drilling operations, if the unit is provided with the described rotary drilling attachment. Since the wire line winch or draw works and its drive constitute a large part of rotary drilling equipment, the pumping and winch unit of this invention requires relatively few additional parts to adapt it for rotary drilling operations. The apparatus of this invention, therefore, effects economy in initial investment as well as upkeep, and is adapted for efiicient use either as a pumping unit on a producing well or as a rotary drilling unit in drilling a well. The apparatus may be quickly and easily assembled and placed in operation as either a pumping unit or as a drilling rig, thereby saving much time and expense.

If the pumping and winch unit is to be provided with the rotary drilling attachment, the power plant I may be in the form of a large motor or one or more small motors. Should two or more motors be used, they may be compounded in. front of the transmission 3 with a high speed chain.

While dimensions and size for certain apparatus parts have been set forth hereinbefore, it is to be understood that such measurements are merely for purposes of illustration.

The foregoing is illustrative, since this: invention includes all modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In oil well pumping equipment, the combination comprising a motor, a driven shaft, variable speed and reduction gearing for transmitting the drive of said motor to said shaft, a crank arm at each end of said shaft, and flexible means driven by said crank arms for operating an oil well pumping rod.

2. In oil well pumping equipment, the combination comprising a motor, a driven shaft, variable speed and reduction gearing for transmitting the drive of said motor to said shaft, a crank arm at each end of said shaft, flexible means driven by said crank arms for operating an oil well pumping rod, a sprocket wheel on said shaft and a wire line winch drum having driving connection with said sprocket wheel.

'3. In oil well pumping equipment, the combination comprising a motor, a driven shaft, variable speed and reduction gearing for transmitting the drive of said motor to said shaft, a crank arm at each end of said shaft, flexible means driven by said crank arms for operating an oil well pumping rod, a sprocket wheel on said shaft, 2. sprocket chain driven by said sprocket wheel, a wire line winch drum. having driving connection with said sprocket chain, a rotary drilling device, and means. including sprocket wheels and sprocket chains for connecting said rotary drilling device and said shaft in driving relation.

4. In oil well equipment, the combination of a prime mover, shaft means driven from said prime mover, a set of crank arms operatively secured to and driven by said shaft means, a pitman connected to each of said crank arms, and flexible means connected to said pitmans and adapted to transmit the drive thereof for reciprocating a deep well pumping rod.

5. In oil well equipment, the combination comprising shaft means, means for driving said shaft means, a set of two crank arms operatively connected to said shaft means, overhead rotary means, and flexible pumping rod driving means operatively connected to said crank arms and extending upwardly and around at least a portion of said rotary means.

6. In oil well equipment, the combination comprising shaft means, means for driving said shaft means, a set of two crank arms operatively connected to said shaft means, overhead sprocket Wheels having laterally spaced axes, and a sprocket chain supported by said sprocket wheels and connected adjacent one end thereof to said crank arm means, said chain having its other end depending from one of said sprocket wheels for attachment to an oil well pumping rod.

7. In oil well equipment, the combination comprising shaft means, means for driving said shaft means, a set of two crank arms driven by said shaft means, a pitman operatively connected to each of said crank arms, means connecting the outer ends of said pitmans, rotary wheel means, and flexible means operatively connected to said connecting means, said flexible means extending over said rotary wheel means and then downwardly for attachment to an oil well pumping rod.

8. In equipment for operating the pumping rod of an oil well, a supporting frame, a prime mover at the base of the frame, an overhead shaft carried by said frame, a set of at least three spaced rotary wheels mounted on said shaft, flexible pumping rod driving means supported by the intermediate rotary wheel of said set and having driving connection with said prime mover, and means including a flexible means supported by each of the outer two of said rotary wheels to counterbalance a substantial part of the weight of said pumping rod.

9. In oil well equipment, the combination comprising a rigidly assembled frame, an engine, a

power shaft extending transversely of said engine and shaft, variable speed and reduction gearing for transmitting the drive of said engine to said shaft, flexible means for operating an oil well pumping rod, crank arm means on said shaft for driving said flexible means, and a wire line winch drum having driving connection with said shaft.

10. In oil well equipment, the combination comprising a rigidly assembled frame, an engine, a power shaft extending transversely of said engine and frame, variable speed and reduction gearing for transmitting the drive of said engine to said shaft, flexible means for operating an oil well pumping rod, crank arm means on said shaft for driving said flexible means, a wire line winch drum having driving connection with said shaft, and a rotary drilling device having driving connection with said shaft.

11. In oil well equipment-the combination of a prime mover; a rotary shaft driven from'said prime mover; a clutch, variable speed ratio gearing, and reduction gearing interposed in the drive for said shaft; a set of two crank arms secured to opposite ends of said driven shaft; a pitman connected to each of said crank arms; rigid means connecting the outer ends of said pitmans; flexible means, such as a chain, secured at one end thereof to said rigid connecting means; a horizontally arranged rod-like member secured to the other end of said flexible means and adapted to be secured to an oil well piston rod; an overhead shaft; a set of at least three rotary wheels mounted in spaced relation on said shaft, an intermediate one of said rotary wheels supporting said flexible driving means intermediate the ends of the latter; and means, including a flexible means supported by each of two of said rotary wheels at opposite sides of said intermediate rotary wheel, to counterbalance a substantial part of the weight of said pumping rod, the two flexible means of said counterbalancing means being secured to said rod-like member at spaced points on opposite sides of said flexible driving means.

THOMAS WALKER MURRAY. 

